Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Wednesday Words. #8 A New Bird!
Good morning on this very cold Wednesday! It is another cold day for sure, with a north wind bringing our temperature down to -30F (-39C). That is too cold for this time of the year, even if it is winter. It is normally warmer than that the last week of February. However, nicer days are coming by Sunday. And the sun is shining brightly today which makes everything look so nice, even if it is cold. And the sky is a wonderful blue as well.
The birds are busy once again this morning. Speaking of birds, what a day yesterday! I have heard a bird all winter, but was never able to see it. I was finally thinking that maybe one of the other birds was making that sound, he just had a sore throat, or something. Yesterday I had gone out to get the mail and when I came back onto the deck I heard that bird again. That sure sounds like the Boreal chickadee, I thought to myself, it has to be. Then I looked and there was a Boreal chickadee on one of the suet feeders!
The Boreal Chickadee is brown where the Black-capped Chickadee is black and gray. The Boreal does have a black “bib” just like the Black-capped.
I could not believe it! And me standing there without my camera. I could not believe that either. Then a second one showed up and landed on the step beside my feet, hopping around and picking up small pieces of peanuts! He flew away, and I mean, away. So did the other one. Sigh. I went in quickly and came back out with my camera. I thought maybe they would come back. I waited, but nothing. Then a female Downy woodpecker showed up and I was able to get some nice pics of her, finally, after trying all winter! Beautiful, I thought.
Now, what about those 2 Boreal chickadees? I looked in my notes to see when I last saw them. I thought it was way back in 1980, but after that sighting I had seen them in December 1993. That was when I lived on the other side of town, on the edge of town where there was a lot of spruce trees. That is what the Boreal chickadee likes best. I have not seen them around town since that time, not even with all my walks to the river, summer or winter. I was VERY excited about seeing them! But I wanted a picture.
Here you can see his nice brown feathers on its head and back.
Then they came back and I managed to get some nice pics of the two of them. I was jumping with excitement! Okay, I am a bit crazy, but these are not commonly seen birds, winter is the best time to see them if they are around. And getting pictures is something else again! I was 16 the first time I saw them, that was in January that year, and all the experts in birding (proper name for birdwatching) did not believe I had them coming to my feeder, and onto my hand.
That just did not happen, they told me. I had a cheap camera back then, before the digital days, and I got my dad to get a pic of me with one on my hand. I also got pics of them on the suet feeders. I have never seen one eat a sunflower seed though which is odd, since the Black-capped chickadees eat sunflower seeds all the time. But they like suet and bread crumbs, and now I see they also like peanuts.
Another look at its nice coloring.
They seemed very comfortable with coming around, so they have been here before, probably quite a bit, but I have not seen them. I will be watching more carefully now and hope to get them to land on my hand. That would be so fantastic. But just getting more pictures would be great. Well, I did not really expect to do a whole post on this, but here it is. I hope you enjoy the pics. Have a wonderful Wednesday and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
The Investigators, Inc. The Dead Lawyer Case. Chapter 2. Help Needed.
“That is the whole police report?” I asked Annelie. “Yep, that is all of it,” she said, “and there was no autopsy, therefore, no report there either.” “This is crazy,” I said, “there is nothing here, it should never have been accepted.” “True enough,” said Annelie, “so someone higher up in the police force there is on the Carnival payroll. And this Carnival Alvares is a smaller time drug dealer trying to make a big name for himself and take over a large chunk of the drug trade in Canada, plus trying to move into Mexico as well.
He might be a dangerous man since he is working his way up.” “Hmm, I think it might be time to check with our mystery man for more information before we get started on this one,” I said, “we want to know what we are up against, and he just might know something about Alvares. Also I want to talk with Rossana, she knows the police chief in Toronto quite well.” “Hi Steve,” said Rossana, “what is going on these days?”
I filled her in on our new case here and asked her about the police chief in Toronto. “He is a good man Steve,” she said, “I will contact him and tell him about you and what you are planning. Then I will get back with you.” “Thanks Rossana,” I said, “but make sure he does not share anything with anyone out there. Hard to know who can be trusted, but we will find out for him.” Next I contacted our mystery man and told him what was going on and asked if he knew about Carnival Alvares.
He said he knew him and would get back to me this evening after he checks on a couple of things. “I am not so sure I should be involving you and your team after hearing these things,” said Kathee, “maybe we should forget it, and…I will just go…back.” “Back to where?” I asked her, “your home was destroyed, where will you live?” “I, I am…not really sure…what I will do Steve,” she said slowly, putting her head down and continuing, “I am ashamed to admit…I have nothing left except a plane ticket back to Toronto.
No…job, no money, nothing, not even clothes…except what I am wearing, and I have been wearing this outfit, well, far too long.” “Why did you not say something earlier?” said Sky, “come with me, between us girls I am sure we can find you lots of clothes for now.” Sky took her away so she could shower and get changed. When the girls heard, they quickly figured out who was the same size as Kathee, and that would be Macey, Astrid, Tracy and Ashley.
All the girls here have more clothes than they know what to do with, so sharing some was easy. Our mystery man called back later that evening. “I want you to know that Carnival, or Alberto which is his real name, is a dangerous man. He is trying to make it big for himself quickly, that means he does not mind killing anyone who gets in his way. But he likely hired someone to kill that couple you mentioned, that way the cops can never pin anything on him.
You need to go in as another gang, not as PI’s, Steve. It will be easier for you to deal with him and his men. Victor wants to send you 3 of his men, they know Carnival, they also know how to act in something like this. Listen to them Steve, they will help you, just like John, Tracy and Macey. They know how things are run. Do not show any fear to Carnival, be tough, you do the pushing. These men will listen to you as well, so no need to worry there.
You know 2 of them, Frank and Ralph, the other is a man named Carver. He is tough, he does not talk much but does not need to. He should be your bodyguard. Carnival and his men will know these 3, especially Carver. That will let them know you are backed by Victor and that should keep you alive. But do not think it will be easy to take him down.”
“I am not really trying to take him down right now,” I said, “but perhaps put him in prison, even for a short time. But I especially want those cops who work for him and get them in prison. That might slow him down for a bit too.” “Good thinking,” he said, “but the cops might be after you too.” “Yes, but I have that under control already,” I said, “we might be in jail overnight, but that is all.”
“Good, that will give you some legitimacy too,” he said chuckling. “Thanks mystery man, for your help,” I said. He chuckled again, “I like that.” His men arrived the next morning and we spent the day going over things. The next day we were on the jet headed to Toronto, Canada…
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 